Docs testify abortion clinic likely to close if law enforced

NEW ORLEANS - The administrator of a northwest Louisiana abortion clinic says it probably would close if the state is allowed to enforce a law requiring doctors who perform the procedure to be able to admit patients to a hospital within 30 miles of their clinics.

Kathaleen Pittman of Hope Medical Group in Shreveport testified Monday that the doctor who does 70 percent of the abortions there has not been able to get admitting privileges to nearby hospitals. She says the other doctor probably would be unwilling to continue as the only physician on staff.

Pittman says both doctors have agreements with local hospitals to take patients from Hope in emergencies. She also testified that most patients live closer to hospitals outside Shreveport and would go to those if they had emergencies after returning home.

Judge John deGravelles has set aside six days for the trial in Baton Rouge.